Conquer Your Fears: IronMan Mike Sacramone Interview

What made you want to get started training for the IronMan?

In 2011 I started the long journey of attempting to quit smoking. I had smoked since I was about 15 pretty heavily for 10+ years. My friend Luan had invited me on a backpacking trip to try and summit Mount Whitney. So I got excited and got all the gear I needed to backpack and camp. I had absolutely no idea what I was up against until I started reading about altitude. I tried my best to train, but really had no idea what I was doing so I was just occasionally running. The day came like the blink of an eye. Next thing you know we were up at 12,000ft and there I was smoking a cigarette. I woke up the next day feeling confident only to realize the next 12 hours were about to be some of the most miserable hours I’ve experienced. If you don’t know what altitude sickness feels like.. imagine this- the nervousness of running your first marathon with a long swim. You don’t know how to swim? Perfect. Imagine that. Miles and miles away from everyone and all safety feeling hungover AF without the booze. Anyways.. I made it to about 14,000ft and altitude took over. I had to turn around throwing up and all. I started my trek back alone and ended up off trail 13,5000ft up confused if I had walked up or down. Thankfully a 65 year old couple saw me (the husband just had a heart transplant 21 year old heart and the wife was celebrating her birthday), fed me and escorted me down the pass. I sat at the base of the switchbacks miserable staring up wondering what in the Fck happened. Looking up at the giant beautiful mountain with awe. I was torn physically and mentally that I didn’t summit and that moment right there. That moment started the journey to conquer everything and to learn the limits of myself. First thing was conquering quitting smoking. It took a while and I hit some bumps, but I did it. Next thing was looking up the hardest charity event. I found Reach the Beach. It was for the American Lung Association which seemed like the perfect start to my Journey. I bought a cheap Wal-Mart bike and took the 29 hour train ride by myself from LA to Portland to do this race. I finished then that same day went back to the airport and sold my bike to help buy a ticket back home. Then I ended up meeting a great group of climbers. Dave had told me about this American liver foundation climb on Mount Shasta he was a leader of and I was sold. I did my best at training and ended up raising $30,000 with a team of 12 people to summit Shasta. I couldn’t believe I made the summit since it was only a couple hundred feet less than Mount Whitney and more technical. So my next journey was to return to summit Mount Whitney once and for all.

About a year later I was standing at the top of Mount Whitney 14’505ft up and that made me feel something amazing.

I got back down and was craving more. I decided shoots. My first mountain I ever attempted was Mount Whitney. Why not try a full Marathon?? I had done Ragnar race between and had a blast so I figured it was a good start. I signed up for the OC marathon and finished in 5:03. Over the years I’ve heard of the Ironman race. One of the hardest triathlons there is. So I figured you know what? Why not go for a full Ironman off the bat. 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run. Well.. I gotta learn how to swim. I had 6 months. I knew how to tread water and I’m scuba certified. But actually swimming pool lengths was really me just mind boggling to me especially since I almost drowned twice younger. So I got a coach (Diego from Triathlon Team Training) and started my next journey. Everyone told me to do a small triathlon first or even a 70.3 ironman. My mentality was like why??? If I fail at half I still have to complete a full! So might as well go all out head first and see what I got. Next thing you know I’m jumping in the Tempe Towne Lake with thousands of people and then I’m crossing the finish line of Tempe AZ Ironman 15 hours and 5 minutes later.

Where does your motivation come from?

My motivation comes from many things. The regrets of smoking, the failure reaching the top of mount Whitney, the drowning experiences. When Me and my family were traveling across the US when I was very young I remember at a hotel some kid came up to me and asked if I wanted to play a game. I said sure, then he dunked me under water to see how long I could hold my breath. All I could remember was fully panicking and if it wasn’t for my mom pulling that kids hair pulling him out the pool god knows what would have happened. Then when I was in middle school some of my “friends” thought it would be a good idea to swim across Hume lake. I had bronchitis at the time. They all barely made it and I got half way before I couldn’t swim anymore. Thankfully some boat saw me and grabbed my arm before I sank to the bottom of the lake. Still don’t know who that was, but I’m so thankful for them. My motivation stems from overcoming fears to overcoming failures to being the best physically and mentally I can be. Especially now that I have a little baby girl on the way now.

What was your training like?

My training was very specific especially when I got a coach. I won’t lie I wasn’t the best student. It was hard for me to maintain a structure my first time around because I was not used to it. Before when I was “training” I would just wake up and tell myself to run 10 miles, or 6 miles hard. No structure. However with the structure I had blended with the great group of people I met. It all worked out.

My training was usually 5-6 days a week brick workouts. Long bike ride with short run or a swim with a long bike. The sessions would either be for getting in hours/miles or interval training... and of course after the long days it was mandatory to have a beer. LOL.

You mentioned you weren’t a great swimmer when you’ve started. How did you overcome your fears?

Honestly I said screw it. I’m also terrified of sharks. So me and my fiancé did a open water shark dive 3 miles off the coast of Oahu. What a way to jump in. I think the best way I overcame the swim was just swimming. I went to Long Beach a lot and swam in the ocean. It was terrifying. I had to swim with friends and act like it was all ok, but deep down inside I was peeing in my wetsuit. Then when waiting at the start of Ironman my friends told the people in front of us that this was my first triathlon and you should have seen their faces. Their faces scared the hell out of me. All my motivation and training went out the window and all I saw was fear as I was getting closer to the chaos of everyone jumping in the water. Funny story though, once I jumped in the water I got 100m and had a full panic attack. As I was floating in the water hanging on the kayak I hear someone yell “MIKEEE!” And I look up and see my fiancé, Mom, sister, and friends. Here I am floating literally 100m of 2.4 Miles. Embarrassed like how in hell am I going to do this. The volunteer on the kayak told me “relax, your adrenaline is going. You got this”. So I took a deep breathe. Let go. And swam the 2.4 miles without stopping and still managed to finish the swim faster than I had ever swam even with that panic attack.

What are your inspirations?

My inspirations come from family and friends. I want to be the best I can be for myself, my Fiance, my little baby girl on the way. My buddy Ray Diaz (Personal Trainer) who originally got me getting physically fit at the gym and Gary Binoya (Ironman & friend), Ray Soquena (Ironman) helped me with the hand me down gear and keeping me moving during the long days. All these people have made huge impacts on my life. During training and the races I think about my Grandpa a lot and how proud he would be if he could see what I was doing. He passed away a couple years ago and it’s been tough. When I want to quit I think to myself all of the people that helped me and motivated me to get to the point I’m at and that gives me fuel to keep moving.

What is your diet like during training?

My diet is very specific for 80% of the week. I have to keep a high calorie intake because during some of those long days, man, you burn thousands of calories. For the most part my day would be like this with a couple of mix ins.

• Out of bed: Chug glass of water
• First thing: Chop up garlic and eat with a spoonful of honey
• Breakfast: 2 eggs, 3 egg whites, turmeric, black pepper, 2 slices of multi-grain bread while drinking a glass of apple cider vinegar/water
• Lunch: Home made acai bowl of some sort
• Post training/mid day: cayenne tea to help with inflammation.
• Dinner: Usually a toss up, but every day no matter what I have a large salad with olives, artichokes, mushrooms, and beets before dinner.
• Before bed: Ginger tea.

What is your supplementation like? (if any)

I take a weight gainer occasionally to help maintain. I get self conscious with the “racer body”. Feels too skinny!! haha

Favorite Motivational People You Follow?

Hands down Les Brown is one of my favorites, Eric Thomas, Tony Robbins. All great people that give me a boost. Actually on my long training days I like to listen to Alan Watts. It’s not so much motivational speaking, but makes you think about life. Anything to distract you from the pain during training.

Favorite Quote(s)?

“Every days a good day kid, just try missing one.”

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Louis Ha

Bring The Shreds was founded by Louis Ha.

Louis is an online fitness coach and entrepreneur based in the Bay Area.